Yet another random encounter and this one's even longer! Sorry if Jason seems a little off but sometimes it's hard to tell what kind of character he is in the books. And I wrote this at about four in the morning. Also, I seem to be writing a lot of these after the war with Gaea is over so hopefully that's not too annoying. By the way, in this Jason can't properly say Thalia so he says Thali instead, it's not a continuous spelling error.

Warning: contains memories of child abuse and neglect


Jason Grace: A Helping Hand

Setting/Spoilers - The Mark of Athena, after the war with Gaea


Jason Grace sagged tiredly against a cement barrier, his knees threatening to buckle. He had a gaping head wound, possibly cracked ribs, a broken wrist and at the very least, a badly twisted ankle.

In the aftermath of the battle against Gaea, demigods from both the Roman and Greek camps had been sent out to kill any stray monsters that had gotten away. Jason had followed a venti, or storm spirit, to New York where he was then ganged up on by three more venti and a Cyclops. He had managed to turn them all to dust, but not before he had taken several hits. Not to mention he had lost the ambrosia and nectar he had been carrying, so his wounds were still fresh and bleeding and the sun was already beginning to set.

Sighing, he pushed off the barrier and limped over to the nearest fountain, rays of fading light creating a small rainbow in the mist. The park around him was empty, people heading home at the day's end so he was free to toss a drachma into the spraying mist.

"Fleecy, do me a favour, show me Percy Jackson." He said and watched as an image of Percy showed up in front of him. He was at a table eating dinner with two adults. His parents, Jason assumed. They all looked up at him and Jason winced, hoping they either knew about demigods or the mist hid him from their sight.

"Jason!" Percy grinned in greeting, which quickly turned to a frown of concern as he saw the drying blood adorning Jason's face. Jason quickly wiped most of the blood away and grinned tiredly in return.

"Hey Percy, would you or your parents, uh, mind if I spent the night?" Jason had to swallow his pride to ask. The two of them had become friends once the war with Gaea was over but that was also a friendly rivalry and asking for help was not something Jason was accustomed to. However, he didn't really feel like spending the night out on the streets and Percy was the only one he knew who lived in New York. There was no way he'd make it to Camp Half-Blood now and he didn't have enough mortal money on him for a hotel.

"Of course you can!" Percy's mom said to him, and her husband nodded in agreement with a concerned look on his face.

"Where are you?" Percy asked, squinting. Jason figured he was trying to distinguish any familiar landmarks in the background.

"That looks like the small park near the national museum. That's a thirty minute walk from here." Percy's dad said. Internally, Jason winced but he was sure he could handle the walk.

"We'll be right there to pick you up." Percy's mom said and Jason flushed.

"There's no need for that. If you could just tell me where your place is, I can just walk there." He protested feebly. He had already swallowed his pride by calling in the first place, the least he could do was get there on his own.

"You're injured." Percy said, frowning. "You really think we're going to make you walk? Is that a Roman thing?"

Before Jason could respond, all three were standing from the table, leaving half-eaten plates. He felt guilty for interrupting their meal.

"Then you can at least finish your meal before coming." Jason said. "It'll get cold if you leave it now."

"That's what the microwave's for." Percy said. "We'll be there soon." With that said, he swiped the air and cut the message.

Jason stared at the empty air blankly before limping over to the edge of the park and easing down onto a bench. He groaned and wrapped an arm around his ribs as he leaned back. He pulled his legs onto the bench beside him and leaned his shoulder against the back of the bench and partially on the arm railing. As he gazed out at the street, the sun disappeared behind the buildings and a chill began to set in. The cold numbed the pain he was feeling and within minutes, he had fallen asleep.


As soon as the car pulled up to the curb, Percy was out the door and heading towards the figure slumped on a bench. Jason was asleep, looking pale and tired. His hair was a mess, his clothes torn and scruffy and bruises were beginning to form on the skin Percy could see. Sally and Paul came up next to him and Sally gasped softly, looking concerned.

Percy reached forward and gently shook the other boy's shoulder. "Jason?" The clothing was cold beneath his hand and he wondered how long Jason had been outside before he had called. It had been a cold day already and with the sun no longer providing rays of warmth, it was just getting even colder. When there was no response, he shook Jason's shoulder a little harder.

"Jason? Wake up!" He near shouted. Jason groaned and rolled his head to the side before cracking his eyes open.

"Percy?" He asked, stifling a yawn. Jason straightened up on the bench and winced in pain.

"Yeah, how injured are you?" Percy asked. He figured Jason would respond to the straight approach.

"Cracked ribs I think and a broken wrist, bump on the head and a sprained ankle." Jason mumbled and Percy grimaced in sympathy. His parents both frowned in concern.

"Think you can walk to the car?" Percy asked, stepping back to give the Roman demigod space but close enough to steady him if needed.

"'Course I can." Jason said, standing. At the first step however, his knees buckled and he would've fallen over had Percy not grabbed him by the shoulders. Shaking his head, Percy slung Jason's arm over his shoulders and guided him back to the car.

"Stubborn Romans." Percy muttered.

"I'm not sure you're one to talk, Percy." Paul said in amusement. He headed over to the driver's side and got in.

Sally opened the back door for the boys and Percy helped Jason clumsily climb in before he got in himself. Paul already had the car turned on and the heat blasting, which Percy was sure Jason appreciated. Jason himself was slumped against Percy's shoulder, still half asleep and Percy wondered how much blood he had lost from his injuries. Sally got into the front passenger's seat and looked back at the sleeping demigod in worry. Percy knew Jason was going to be mothered for at least tonight and wondered how Jason would respond to that.


It was a challenge getting Jason into their apartment but they managed. Sally quickly made Percy give up his bed, which wasn't that hard since Percy was worried too, and after removing Jason's shoes, they laid the son of Jupiter down. Percy even managed to get Jason to eat a bar of ambrosia before he was sound asleep.

Percy was just impressed that Jason had managed to mumble out a thank you to his parents and an apology for intruding, which Sally denied. If anything, that was just going to make Sally fret even more.

After re-heating their dinners, they ate in silence with Percy constantly glancing out the doorway as though expecting Jason to stumble in.

"Percy," Sally said, "why don't you tell us a little more about your cousin?"

"Uh, he's the son of Ze-I mean, Jupiter. He's from the Roman demigod camp." Percy said. He had already explained the camp to his parents when he had come home. "When I was sent to Camp Jupiter without my memory, he was sent to Camp Half-Blood without his. He's Thalia's brother too."

"How does that work?" Paul asked in confusion.

"Apparently, Zeus fell in love with their mom and they had Thalia. Then he fell in love with her again in his Roman counterpart Jupiter and they had Jason. It's complicated." Percy said lamely.

"Didn't Thalia run away from her mom?" Sally asked, recalling what little Thalia had said about her life before Camp Half-Blood.

Percy nodded, "yeah, after their mom gave Jason away."

"What?" Sally frowned.

"Their mom gave Jason to Hera when he was two, that's what made Thalia run away. She was told that Jason was dead. And Jason was given to Lupa, who trained him before he was sent to Camp Jupiter when he was three." Percy said. "They were only reunited this year."

"Lupa is the wolf that trained you when you had no memory, right?" Paul asked, his brow furrowed in thought. Percy agreed.

"And then Jason went on a dangerous quest shortly after they met, and they haven't really spent a lot of time together since both are so busy." Percy had no idea why he was telling them so much, but he felt as though it as the right thing to do. Judging by the considering look on his mom's face, he was sure Jason would be facing a lot of mothering for however long he stayed here.

"Come here, Jason." Their mother cooed. The effect was ruined when she lost her balance and had to catch the counter to stay in place. Jason curled up even tighter in his hiding place, watching her with scared eyes.

"Jason!" Their mother's voice got louder and sounded mean. Jason said nothing. Soon, their mother shouted and screamed for him to come out as she took another gulp of her drink. Eventually, Thalia came how and entered a screaming match with their mother.

Jason only came out when Thalia assured him that their mother was gone.

Jason awoke feeling a lot better than when he had gone to sleep. He vaguely remembered falling asleep on a bench in the park, Percy helping him into a car and Percy's mom tucking him into a bed. He opened his eyes and saw that he was indeed lying on a bed with the blankets tucked over him. Blushing slightly, he carefully began to sit up only to collapse back onto the bed when his ribs loudly protested the movement. His vision spun as his head throbbed and he closed his eyes against the sensation.

"Jason?" He cracked his eyes open at the voice and saw Percy standing next to the bed, gazing down at him.

"Hey." Jason groaned, closing his eyes again. Then, he reopened them and forced himself to sit up. Percy made as if to help but backed off when he glared at him. He stubbornly stood from the bed but had to grab Percy's shoulder to remain standing.

"I don't think you should be getting up yet, Jason." Percy said. Jason ignored him and staggered towards the door. Percy followed him.

"The bathroom's here." Percy said, pointing at a door in the hall. "I can lend you some clothes if you'd like to take a shower."

Jason hesitated, weighing his options. He would probably worry campers if he came back with shredded clothes and dried blood on him.

"All right." He agreed tiredly. Percy grinned and held out a bundle of clothes and a towel Jason hadn't realised he'd been carrying. Jason took them and walked into the bathroom but paused in the doorway.

"Percy?" He said. Percy, who had turned to walk down the hall stopped and looked at him. "Thank you." He told the son of Poseidon and Percy smiled and nodded before leaving. Once he was gone, Jason leaned heavily against the doorway and closed his eyes while he waited for the world to stop spinning. When he felt more balanced he walked in fully and closed the door while turning on the shower. He carefully stripped off his clothing, looking mournfully at his ripped and bloodstained jeans before discarding them. In the mirror, he could see his injuries had already partially healed and he vaguely remembered Percy making him eat some ambrosia before he fully passed out.

He showered as quickly as he could, careful not to open any wounds then toweled off and dressed in the clothes Percy had lent him. They were definitely not Percy's since they were baggy on him and he was taller and leaner than Percy, though not by much. The pants pooled slightly at his feet so he was forced to roll them up, and the shirt was a little long on him. He figured they belonged to Percy's dad. After drying his hair, he gathered up his ruined clothes and left the bathroom. Just taking a shower had left him exhausted and achy.

Percy's mom met him in the hallway and she immediately swept the bundle of clothes from his arm and guided him back to the room he'd woken up in. He was too tired to protest as he was ushered back into the bed, which he noticed had fresh sheets and he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Thalia danced to one of her loud songs that their mother hated. Jason loved it and clapped his hands in glee as he watched his sister. She sang the lyrics alongside the artist, off-key but she didn't seem to care.

She turned and grabbed his hands, waving them in the air. Jason giggled and wobbled on his feet. Thalia scooped him into the air and spun around and he giggled even louder. He and Thalia danced until the song ended and then Jason was placed on the bed as Thalia cleaned the room.

"He's feverish but he keeps shivering, he hasn't been awake long enough to have some ambrosia or nectar and he keeps trying to leave when wakes up." Percy told Chiron through an Iris Message.

Chiron frowned thoughtfully. "I have spoken with Reyna and she said that Jason was after a storm spirit."

"Jason's chest is bruised like he was hit by a club or something and his ribs are cracked." Percy said. "The gash in his head looks like it could've been caused by the same thing. And what about his fever? He's delirious!"

"Perhaps he ran into other opponents while chasing the storm spirit." Chiron said, "but the fever is worrisome. Have him eat some more ambrosia and drink some nectar. I'll send some medicinal herbs over with Argus. If that does not work, it may be best if you bring him to camp."

"We'll be happy to have him until he recovers." Sally said. Chiron nodded and cut the message.

Percy sighed and sank onto the couch. "He better wake up soon."

Thalia smiled down at him, leaning over and scooping the small child into her arms. He happily curled into her, playing with her hair. She giggled and kissed his forehead and the two year old gurgled happily.

"Thalia, home from school?" Their mother's voice was slurred and wine sloshed in its glass as she weaved over to them. Thalia tightened her grip on her little brother, turning slightly so she was between him and their mother.

"That's right. Have you fed Jason today?" Thalia asked. Their mother frowned.

"Of course I have. I'm not a bad mother." She sneered.

"Then what did you give him?" Thalia shot back.

"Baby food." Their mother said after a pause.

Thalia shook her head in disgust. "We don't even have baby food." Their mother smacked her across the face and Thalia staggered back but kept a careful hold of her little brother. She glared in defiance at their mother.


"Jason? Jason, where are you?" His sister's voice called.

Sniffling, Jason opened his eyes tearfully. "Here, Thali."

After a few moments, Thalia was peering into his hiding spot. She wore a look of concern and anger but Jason knew his sister wasn't angry at him. She was never mad at him.

"Jay, are you hurt?" She asked worriedly. Jason crawled out from under the bed and straight into his sister's arms. She gathered him close and just held him.

"'Fine." He mumbled into her shirt. "She 'sleep."

"Yeah, she's asleep." Thalia said quietly. "Jay, let me see your face." Jason reluctantly pulled away and saw his sister's face tighten with anger. She was staring at the bruise that was forming on the left side of his face. She hugged him close again.

"When you're older, we'll leave this place. All right, Jay?" She whispered to him.

"'Kay." He agreed, closing his eyes and relishing in her warmth.


Their mother carried him to the old, decaying house and two year old Jason peered around curiously. She stopped in a barren room. Jason yelped when a woman suddenly appeared before them. Their mother thrust him out towards the woman and he began to cry in fear.

"Here." Their mother said with a scowl. Jason wanted his sister here. He wanted her to protect him from this strange lady, and he knew she would do just that. If she were here.

"Want Thali! Thali!" He screamed through his tears. The woman frowned down at him scornfully but took him despite his squirming. Their mother turned away and left and Jason thought he could hear his sister's voice so he screamed even louder. But Thalia didn't come, their mother must have stopped her. Then Jason and the strange lady were gone.


"Your mother is dead." Lupa told him. Jason froze and sucked in a breath.

"Thalia?" He asked, desperation tingeing his voice.

"Your sister is gone." Lupa said without remorse and Jason once again felt like that two year old who just wanted his sister to save him. Lupa left him alone and as soon as she was gone, he collapsed to his knees and struggled to hold the tears at bay.

His sister wasn't here but he had held hope after all these years. Now that hope was shattered.

Jason slowly came back to awareness. Someone was shaking his shoulder and saying something.

"-on? Jason? Come on, wake up." It was Percy's voice. Instantly, his memories returned and so did the pain. He groaned but forced his eyes open. Percy looked relieved, then guilty.

"You were… mumbling in your sleep." He said quietly.

Jason grimaced but slowly sat up and Percy held out a bar of ambrosia and a glass of nectar for him. He took them gratefully, the pain fading as he ate and he became more awake.

"Thanks." He said, stretching. He grinned when there was no pain. Percy grinned back, relaxing now that the other boy was moving freely. "How long was I out?"

"You were in and out for a few days." Percy said. "You had this fever that wasn't going away. We even called Chiron for help."

"Oh, sorry." Jason said tiredly. He got up from the bed and was pleased that he didn't lose his balance. Percy seemed pleased too and he gestured towards the door.

"My mom's making breakfast if you're hungry." He said. At the mention of food, Jason's stomach rumbled.

"That'd be great." Jason said, walking out of the bedroom without even a slight limp in his step. "Is this your room?"

"Yeah." Percy said, walking alongside him.

"Sorry for commandeering your room." Jason offered but Percy waved him off.

"I was more worried I'd have to tell Thalia that you were dying or something." Percy said jokingly. Jason chuckled and followed him into the kitchen where he could see Percy's mom cooking at the stove. She turned to them and smiled at Jason.

"Good to see you awake. Do you like pancakes?" She asked. Jason nodded and she gestured to a seat at the table. He sat down, stifling a yawn.

"I'm Sally by the way. You can call me Aunt Sally if you'd like." Percy's mom, Sally, said as she dropped two fluffy blue pancakes onto the plate in front of him.

"Why are they blue?" Jason asked in confusion. Sally and Percy grinned at him.

"Family tradition." Sally said. "Now eat up."

After the delicious breakfast, Jason thanked Sally for letting him stay over. Paul, Percy's father, was apparently at a teacher conference so he asked Percy to thank him for him.

"You can drop by any time you like." Sally said with a smile. She pulled him into a hug which he awkwardly returned after a moment.

"I'll keep that in mind." Jason said, as he turned to the door. "Bye Percy, bye… Aunt Sally." He left before he saw Sally's eyes light up and a smile come to her face.